Foot-plate for roller-skates



(No Model.)

J. V. ROWLETT.

v FOOT PLATE FOR ROLLER SKATES. I No. 313,625. Patented Mar. 10, 1885.

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JACOB v.1towLE'r'r,"or RICHMOND, INDIANA.

FOOT PLATE FORROLLER-SKATES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 313,625, dated March 10, 1885.

Application filed February 5, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AGOB V. R-OWLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Vayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Plates for Roller- Skates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to roller-skates, and the purpose thereof is to provide a light, strong, and comparatively inexpensive footplate for this class of skates,having an arched instep which is strengthened and stiffened by a tie or truss brace forming an integral part of the plate. i

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and combinations of parts,hereinafter fully described,and definitely pointed out in the claims annexed to this specification, the same forming certain novel improvements upon the invention shown and described in an application for Letters Patent filed by meupon the 29th day of August, 188 and numbered in serial 141,7 25.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a plan view of a foot-plate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 1. Fig.

3 is a transversesection of Fig. 2 in the plane a: as. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a modified construction.

In the said drawings, the reference-letter A indicates the foot-plate of a skate, which is preferably formed of sheet metal. The plate being out to the proper shape and size, I form in the instep portion thereof two parallel longitudinal cuts, a a, extending from the front of bent to form the arch of the instep, the outer strips, a of the instep portion being for this purpose curved into the shape shown in section in Fig. 2, the central strip, a, being retained in the same plane with the body of the plate to form an underlying tie or truss brace for the arched instep.

is to draw it into form by means of proper dies, as any shortening or bucklingof the cen tral strip, a, is thereby avoided. 1t may,however, be shaped by any other suitable means.

I have shown in the drawings a strut or post which may, if desired, be interposed between the tie or brace and the arched portions a". This strut may consist of a central bar or plate, B, adapted to rest upon plate or strip a, and having at each end an upwardly and outwardly inclined support, 1), upon which the arched portions a rest. The ends and central portions of the strut may be fastened by rivets. It is evident, however, that other forms of support may be used; but my invention does not of necessityinvolve the employ ment of any post, as I may use the tie-plate without any vertical support.

By my invention I provide a light, strong, and comparatively inexpensive foot-plate possessing just enough elasticity to render it easy for the foot, and capable at the same time of resisting any strain brought upon it in use.

The central strip, a, which forms the brace or truss, may be bent downward, as shown in Fig. 4., to compensate for the shortening of the plate caused by arching the lateral strips c".-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a foot-plate for rollerskates, a stay or brace underlying the upwardly curved. or arched instep portion and integral with [Said plate at its ends only, substantially as specified.

2. Afoot-plate for a roller-skate having the instep portion divided into three longitudinal parts or sections, whereof the two outer form the arched instep, and the central part forms a tie or brace which stiffens and strengthens said instep, substantially as specified.

3. In a foot-plate for a roller-skate, the combination, with the arched instep portion having atie or brace underlying the same and integral with the plate, of a post or strut rest A convenient method of shaping the plate IOO ing upon said tie and. supporting the arched In testimony whereofl affix my signature in 10 portions," substantially as specified. presence of two witnesses.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a footplate blank havingthe instep portion divided JACOB V. ROVVLETT.

by parallel longitudinal cuts into separate parts or sections, whereof the arched instep ,NVitnesses:

portion and a tie 0r brace underlying and BENJAMIN F. HARRIs, strengthening the same may be formed, sub- J. W. NEWMAN. stantially as specified. a 

